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Becky Hoelscher, a senior majoring in social work at Western Illinois University, recently helped Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center in Monmouth, IL, with an $8,000 grant proposal to the Illinois Equine Industry Research and Promotion Board. The grant monies were awarded and helped fix the center's horse barn.
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Drew Angotti (on left) and a volunteer side walker, from Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center in Monmouth (IL), walk with 9-year-old William Bordowitz (middle, on horse).
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WIU Student Helps Rainbow Riders Achieve Pot of Gold

May 4, 2009

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MACOMB, IL -- The rainbow, throughout human history, has been a symbol used to explain various propositions thought up by humankind. Pots of gold and promises among them, the rainbow is also as an emblem of beauty and hope -- meanings not lost on Western Illinois University student Becky Hoelscher (Monmouth, IL).

A senior majoring in social work, Hoelscher volunteers at the Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center in Monmouth (IL), so she knows first hand how the center provides hope and is a place of beauty for those its serves.

"Rainbow Riders' official mission statement is 'to provide safe, professional and affordable therapeutic horseback riding opportunities that contribute positively to the physical, cognitive, emotional and social well being of children with special needs,'" Hoelscher explained. "But to really understand what Rainbow Riders does for children and their families, people have to experience it for themselves."

Hoelscher began volunteering at Rainbow Riders about three years ago, first as an arena assistant, helping instructors with riding lessons, then as a side walker, which involves assisting riders. Helping others comes naturally to Hoelscher, who noted her social work major is a direct result of her frequently finding herself helping family or neighbors. With her love of animals, of horses in particular, for Hoelscher, Rainbow Riders provides a perfect fit for her social activism and humane interests.

"I try to help out the center any way I can," she said. "It's an amazing place that does amazing things for people."

Hoelscher's help at Rainbow Riders has also resulted in an $8,000 grant, which was recently awarded to Rainbow Riders through the Illinois Equine Industry Research and Promotion Board. As part of her degree coursework, Hoelscher enrolled in a social work policy course in Fall 2008 taught by Michael Fimmen, chairperson of WIU's social work department. The "Barn and Paddock Restoration in Support of Rainbow Riders" grant proposal was the result of what she learned in Fimmen's class, a grant-proposal writing assignment in a general practice class taught by Rebekah Clark, social work instructor, and her volunteer efforts at Rainbow Riders.

"Mr. Fimmen provided step-by-step instructions for writing grant proposals, and Ms. Clark gave students the freedom to write proposals for any that we chose. My first thought was to compose a proposal for Rainbow Riders. I figured this assignment would be a perfect opportunity for another way for me to help," Hoelscher said.

Clark noted that Hoelscher's initiative on the grant-proposal assignment demonstrates the type of professional she will be in the world of social work.

"Instead of just treating it like another assignment, she used the opportunity to stretch herself educationally and make a real-life impact on her community," Clark said. "Becky is an exceptional student and will make an incredible social worker -- I would be thrilled to one day call her my co-worker!"

As for Hoelscher, she humbly attributes, in part, the success of the Barn and Paddock Restoration in Support of Rainbow Riders grant proposal to Fimmen and to Clark. She also noted that Drew Angotti, the executive director at Rainbow Riders, helped her with the proposal.

"Becky gathered the information and then wrote the first draft of the grant proposal. It was then revised, but most of the work was put in by Becky," Angotti said. "The money was used for a new roof over the barn and is now finished. The barn is totally dry for the first time in quite a while," he added.

After she graduates this month, Hoelscher has plans to continue to volunteer at her hometown Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center.

"Rainbow Riders provides an excellent volunteer opportunity for those who love to help and work with people and horses," Hoelscher said. "As I said, it's an amazing place, and it really does provide hope and offer a beautiful and therapeutic experience for the children and their families."

Learn more about Rainbow Riders at www.rainbowridershome.org. Contact the center at (309) 734-4848 or Angotti at drewangotti@rainbowridershome.org.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing